Stephen Lawrence Murder Trial: Clothing Forms Basis Of New Evidence

A grey bomber jacket and a multi-coloured cardigan are among clothing which forms the basis of new scientific evidence in the Stephen Lawrence case, the Old Bailey has heard.

Jurors were shown photographs of the items seized from suspect Gary Dobson following the murder of the black teenager 18 years ago.

They were also shown pictures of a pair of blue jeans and a blue sweatshirt taken from second accused David Norris's home.

Mark Ellison QC, prosecuting, said the case against the two men relied on new scientific evidence which came to light as a result of a 2007 cold case review.

He said: "It consists of the finding of textile fibres, blood and hair linked to Stephen Lawrence on clothing seized from the defendants as part of the original investigation in 1993."

The items had not been found originally because of techniques and practices of the time, the court heard.

Mr Ellison said the defence maintained that the samples got on to the clothing through contamination during the subsequent police investigation. But the prosecution's case was that they proved the defendants were members of the group which attacked Mr Lawrence.

Dobson, 36, and Norris, 35, both of south London, deny the murder.

The court was told that the 18-year-old student was attacked after being surrounded by a group of white men as he and his friend, Duwayne Brooks, waited for a bus in Well Hall Road, Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993.

Mr Ellison said: "Stephen Lawrence did not manage to get away. The group quickly surrounded him. One witness described that he was swallowed up by the weight of numbers and forced to the ground."